Rader to abandon another state Senate bid, challenge Rep. Perman in Democratic primary

There are many potential roads back to Tallahassee for former Democratic state Rep. Kevin Rader — but all of them seem to involve running against sitting Democratic legislators in a primary.

Rader initially launched a primary challenge against incumbent state Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Boca Raton. Then he announced he was running for an open state Senate seat in a primary against a pair of sitting state House members — Reps. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, and Mack Bernard, D-West Palm Beach.

Now Rader says he is giving up the state Senate primary to run for a state House seat against incumbent Rep. Steve Perman, D-Boca Raton.

Perman was elected to Rader’s old House seat in 2010 when Rader pursued a failed bid for a state Senate seat.

“Over the past few weeks or so I’ve received much encouragement to run here,” Rader said. “This is where I work, my children go to school in the district, it’s where my family is, where I attend synagogue….Everything I do is right here in this district.”

Rader said he plans to file qualifying papers for the House District 81 later this week. The deadline is noon Friday.

Before Rader confirmed his plans, Perman said he had heard rumors that Rader would challenge him.

“I’ve worked hard to do a good job and if someone challenges me I will work hard and do what I can to be re-elected,” Perman said. He added: “I’m surprised because on more than one occasion (Rader) expressed to me that he really wasn’t interested in running for the House. If he does it’ll be a third jump to a different race.”